246: Chapter 246 The Tortoise, Insect, and Dragon Unite!

The prosperity of the Human Race was merely one side of the coin.

The other side was Shi Jian's arrangements for the Yao Race.

After the Northern Territory stabilized, Shi Jian fulfilled his promise to Golden Crocodile.

North of Fengshui City, a mountain range and lake system spanning over six hundred li in length and three hundred li in width was entirely carved out and named: Fengshui Lake!

The downstream lakes of its water system flowed directly into Feng Lake at the heart of Fengshui City.

This territory was the core area for the Yao Beast industry under White Cloud Temple.

The restrictions were extremely strict.

Sun Chengzhu personally wrote a Sect decree, which was carved onto a giant stone at the entrance of Fengshui Lake.

The stone was two zhang high, with the rules engraved by Sword Qi.

"Fengshui Lake is a beast-rearing ground for the Sect; unauthorized entry to hunt Yao Beasts is strictly prohibited. Violators, regardless of their status or cultivation, will be dealt with according to the White Cloud Temple Sect rules."

Once this prohibition was issued, quite a few people were unhappy.

That mountain range was rich in Spiritual Qi and abundant in water systems; to some Cultivators, setting it aside for Yao Beasts was a waste of natural resources.

But no one dared to voice their complaints.

Behind the prohibition stood two Golden Core existences: Shi Jian and Sun Chengzhu.

You're not convinced?

Go and offer your opinions to those two and see if anyone pays attention to you.

After Fengshui Lake was designated, Shi Jian set about moving a portion of the Yao Race under his command into the area.

Golden Crocodile's Crocodile Beast Five Branches were assigned the largest body of water in the lake area, along with three surrounding low hills, covering a water area of several dozen li.

The bottom of the water was connected to a third-tier Spiritual Vein, providing abundant Spiritual Qi, sufficient for the Crocodile Beast tribe to thrive and multiply.

The Iron-Armored Crocodile branch occupied the mudflats west of the lake; other Yao Beasts found the place dirty and smelly, but the Iron-Armored Crocodiles were absolutely delighted.

The thicker the mud, the better; they naturally loved rolling around in the muck.

The Green-Scaled Crocodile branch moved into a deep pool at the northern end of the Spirit Lake.

The pool water was clear and secluded, with concentrated Spiritual Qi; it was the best water quality in the entire Fengshui Lake.

Shi Jian specifically assigned this spot to the Green-Scaled Crocodile branch; their Bloodline was the best, with the potential to produce a Golden Core, so they needed to be cultivated with priority.

The Mud-Spined Crocodiles and Red-Eyed Crocodiles were scattered in the valleys on both sides of the mountain range.

In addition to the Crocodile Beast Five Branches, some of the original Yao Race forces of White Cloud Temple were also relocated.

A batch of Wind Rat pups and Black Dog puppies were brought in from Ming Prefecture, and a new beast garden was opened in the shallow mountain area south of Fengshui Lake.

Those native Yao Beasts recruited from the Northern Territory—the likes of Mud-Hidden Frogs, Swamp Lizards, and Savage Deer—were also settled in the outer buffer zone, overseen by a Great Black Dog Yao sent by Kuang Dou.

"Overseen" wasn't quite right; "coexistence" was a more fitting term.

Their living space was indeed smaller than before.

In the past, they could roam freely throughout the Northern Territory and go wherever they wanted, but now they were confined to a fixed area; Golden Crocodile initially had some complaints about this.

But after living there for half a year, the grumbling subsided significantly.

Because life was indeed better than before.

The Human Race Cultivators had improved the spiritual energy of the land, creating gathering points for spiritual eyes everywhere, and the concentration of Spiritual Qi was countless times stronger than that poisonous swamp land before.

Their cultivation efficiency had nearly doubled, which could be considered a gain.

Not to mention the supply of Spirit Medicine.

White Cloud Temple's beast-rearing system had been running for many years and was highly experienced.

What Spirit Medicine each breed of Yao Beast ate, what Spirit Pill should be fed at each stage—a complete set of plans was presented, and even Golden Crocodile couldn't find any faults.

The Iron-Armored Crocodile branch, that group of thick-skinned fellows, used to grow up eating poisonous insects in the swamp; their skin grew harder, but their internal organs accumulated severe toxins, and few lived past three hundred years.

Now, with specialists preparing blood-meat and occasional Beast-Rearing Pills to consume, the Physique of the Iron-Armored Crocodiles had significantly improved in just two short years; their bodies were larger, and their potential was higher.

Golden Crocodile watched these changes in his tribe, his heart filled with complex emotions.

Shi Jian hadn't lied to him.

Life was truly getting better, but there were costs as well.

There was less freedom, more rules, and everything had to be done according to the Human Race's protocols. But compared to struggling to survive in the poisonous swamp before, this small cost was nothing... After all, there are gains and losses, which was normal.

As the days got better and better, Golden Crocodile finally set his mind at ease and didn't think too much about it anymore.

The construction of Fengshui Lake had taken three years and was beginning to show results.

By the end of the sixth year of exploring the Evil Water Marsh.

The Northern Territory had completely undergone a rebirth, and it wasn't just that the population was increasing.

Even the miasma for hundreds of li outside the city had been cleared by more than ninety percent, and more herb fields and gardens had been reclaimed.

Several spiritual gold mineral veins had also been discovered, which could bring in massive profits.

This income was enough to cover the bulk of the daily operational expenses.

The various changes in the Northern Territory could be described as changing with each passing day, and naturally, they couldn't escape the eyes and ears of the Yao Beasts in the other regions.

They were neither deaf nor blind; they knew deeply that the sky over the Northern Territory had changed!

The Crocodile Beast tribe, which used to be just like them, huddled in the mud gnawing on poisonous insects, was now eating blood-meat, Medicinal Pills, and Spirit Medicine provided by the Human Race, residing in a living area specifically created for them by the Human Race, with their cultivation speed visibly increasing.

And the Human Race Cultivators had completely transformed that swamp, building cities, constructing roads, planting Spirit Medicine, and mining spiritual minerals; they were bustling with activity.

All of this was like a thorn stuck in the eyes of the three Southern tribes.

Especially the Poison Dragon King, who viewed it as a thorn in his side, a bone in his throat, wishing he could immediately eradicate them!

The Southern Region of the Evil Water Marsh, the Dragon-Binding Abyss.

This body of water was the deepest place in the entire Evil Water Marsh.

The water surface was a dark purple, covered year-round by a layer of faint, lingering poisonous mist; ordinary Yao Beasts had to take a detour when approaching, and even birds dared not linger too long when passing overhead.

The poisonous miasma here was becoming increasingly terrifying; one breath would rot your lungs.

At the deepest part of the Dragon-Binding Abyss was the Poison Dragon King's nest.

Three hundred zhang underwater, a giant palace built of black reef rock and Yao bones stood on the bottom; there was no light in the palace, only the purple scale light occasionally sliding off the Poison Dragon, illuminating the contours of the surroundings.

The Poison Dragon coiled in the center of the main hall, its body over a hundred zhang long, its whole body purple-black, with fine venom constantly seeping from between its scales, dyeing the surrounding waters a thick, deep purple.

However, today, the Dragon-Binding Abyss had two guests.

A giant turtle, entirely dark green with mossy patterns covering its back shell, slowly sank into the deep water.

The Canglan Turtle Wan Xiang, a level-six Yao Beast, was not too large in size, with a shell diameter of only thirty zhang, which paled in comparison to the Poison Dragon.

The other was a dark blue giant bee with three pairs of wings.

The Yin Water Queen Bee: Ming Shui!

Among the three Golden Core existences, the Queen Bee was the most petite, with a wingspan of only five zhang, her whole body covered in a layer of water-blue carapace.

Her tail stinger was slender, flashing with a cold light.

This was the first time in hundreds of years in the Evil Water Marsh that three Golden Core Yao generals from different clans had gathered; usually, the families didn't get along, and for them to gather today, it was like the sun rising from the west.

The Poison Dragon King didn't have the habit of exchanging pleasantries, or perhaps he simply looked down on the other two Yao, so he went straight to the point:

"That piece of trash Golden Crocodile was defeated, and the Northern Territory is lost."

Upon hearing this, Wan Xiang didn't seem to care, responding unhurriedly: "This old one has heard; even Golden Crocodile was no match for them."

"It seems the enemy this time is no small matter."

"This old one previously peeked in secret; that bear's background is not simple, its cultivation has already reached the Mid-stage Golden Core, and it is not easy to deal with."

"Moreover, this fellow seems to have a Human Race Sect providing shelter behind it."

"Why, is the Dragon King planning to take action personally?"

Upon hearing this, the Poison Dragon King was clearly somewhat displeased; this old thing's reaction was within his expectations, but outside the scope of his patience.

"Old thing, stop talking nonsense; I called you here today for one thing only."

"Ally."

"Take advantage of the fact that that bear hasn't gained a firm foothold yet and catch him off guard."

"This is our home turf; do you two intend to abandon the last remaining habitat of our Yao?"

"Five Golden Cores against three; no matter what, we won't lose."

The Poison Dragon King was using this as an argument, but the Queen Bee clearly didn't agree: "Dragon King, we will naturally do our utmost to protect our habitat, but you must at least tell us what your plan is, right?"

"You can't just open your mouth, and have our clansmen become cannon fodder and lose their lives."

Seeing this, the Poison Dragon King seemed to have been prepared long ago, and he slowly and unhurriedly detailed: "Naturally, I have a plan."

"It's nothing more than 'launching a Beast Tide to expel the Human Race!'"

"At that time, we will press forward from the South, West, and East simultaneously, triggering a wave to flood the entire Northern Territory for me."

"First, tear open their defensive lines, then break those outpost strongholds one by one; as long as we cut off the Human Race's bottom-level supply lines, they will be unable to gain a foothold in the Evil Water Marsh!"

"As long as that rotten city is washed away, the Human Race Cultivators in the Northern Territory will naturally scatter like birds and beasts. Even if the Human Race pours out in full force then, we will avoid their sharp edge and maneuver against them."

"With the power of our home turf, they definitely won't be able to outlast us!"

Seeing the Poison Dragon King speaking so logically, the Queen Bee thought for a moment, then nodded and agreed: "Since the Dragon King has said so, then my Insect Department can naturally send troops, but there is one condition: the territory of the Eastern Region cannot shrink after the war."

"Rest assured, that is only natural."

"After the fight, everyone goes back to their own homes; I just want the Northern Territory to return to its original state."

Upon hearing this, Wan Xiang remained motionless, silently watching the Poison Dragon King's performance.

"This old one is getting on in years; matters of fighting and killing..."

"Cut that out!"

The Poison Dragon King let out a low roar: "Old Turtle, don't think I don't know what you're thinking. Do you think you can hide in the Western Region for the rest of your life by shrinking back?"

"Today they finish gnawing on the Northern Territory, and tomorrow it will be your turn!"

Wan Xiang's eyelids twitched; strangely enough, this line of reasoning was somewhat similar to the rhetoric Shi Jian used to persuade Golden Crocodile that day.

What you fear is what comes; it is nothing more than this.

After another long silence.

Wan Xiang finally nodded, his expression unreadable as he said: "Alright, since the Dragon King has ordered it, the various Turtle clans can cooperate."

"But—"

"What if we lose?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the Poison Dragon King and the Queen Bee paused simultaneously.

"Lose? Five Golden Cores can't beat one bear plus one Human Race Sword Cultivator?"

"This old one just asked a question..."

"What's wrong with thinking one step ahead? Isn't it better to take precautions against potential trouble?"

Seeing this, the Poison Dragon King didn't bother with him anymore and began discussing the details of the Beast Tide with the Queen Bee: which route would be the main attack, which would be the feint, how to allocate the Yao Beasts, when to act...

Under external pressure, the three forces quickly reached a consensus.

The first alliance meeting was thus finalized.